Big Ten Coaches Anonymously Preview Michigan vs. Alabama

There’s legit criticisms to be leveled at Harbaugh and Michigan, especially on offense. 

I’m not surprised in the least, tbh. These are the kinds of comments you get when your QB throws 1 TD and 1 INT over the last 5 games of the season. We ARE 1-dimensional. We AREN’T “peaking” at the right time like Alabama is.

These quotes sound like Tweets. And don’t forget that James Franklin & co. LOVE to volunteer to badmouth Michigan.

They are talking about this on the M-Zone (WTKA).

My comments about this article- What a bunch of weasels- these Big 10 coaches. These are the same bunch responsible for Jim's second 3 game suspension.

No way will I cheer for ANY Big-10 team in the upcoming bowl season. I hope that they ALL lose. I really want to see BGSU with former M coach Scott Loeffler beat the row your boat MN Golden Gophers.

It's still Michigan vs everybody! More bulletin board material. 

As for singling out some of our players, I would ask these Big-10 coaches- So you wouldn't want any of these guys starting on your team?

Peace-out!

We interviewed Big Ten coaches, scouts and analysts to break down Michigan and how it has gone about winning three straight conference championships. They were granted anonymity so they could provide candid observations about their own programs.

"We've tried everything" said one anonymous coach. "We've tried playing soft vanilla defenses, we've pressed our safeties and blitzed, we've changed coordinators to get a new perspective. Nothing works, they just run it down our throats whatever we do."

"We've got their practice video, I've even had my guys rummaging through their garbage cans and it doesn't do any good" said another. "Hell, we even brought in our own guy as commissioner and got Harbaugh booted for three games and they kept on winning. At some point I'm going to have to admit I'm apparently not very good at my job."

We only won the toughest part of our schedule with a huge gigantic shit storm distracting everyone. 

This conference is in such a self-destructive, unhealthy state.  RIP B1G.

For all the hand-wringing, some of the comments seem fairly accurate. 

Michigan's offense was really one-dimensional down the stretch:

• The oline has been suspect at best at times, in particular with pass-rush. 
• JJ was hurt against PSU and has simply not looked as locked-in as he was for most of the year, not progressing through reads and not hitting some of the throws that became very routine
• Edwards disappears during stretches of games with bad reads, missed pass-blocking assignments, etc

I would not be surprised if Michigan has potentially worked the players too hard leading up to bowl games - but no evidence of it. 

My hope is that they do work on being creative and think of the offense as a way to attack and win vs. as a statistically sound way to force their will onto Alabama as I simply don't think this oline has the ability to let Michigan only throw 8 passes against Alabama & win. 

Get the kids rested and healed, work on fundamentals and open it up a bit would be fun to watch, but if Michigan tries the 95% of 1st and 2nd down snaps are Corum or Edwards between the tackles, it is likely going to be a long game.

What makes me laugh is there are still college educated coaches in our league that truly believe we only won because of sign stealing. The ignorance or arrogance of some of these guys is phenomenal.

I love this and certainly hope a copy is placed is each player's locker.

I respect Bama - they are a good football team, I don't question that.   I also have great respect for Team 144 and am confident in their ability to execute.

Go Blue!

What horseshit. We beat PSU good, and even shut out Iowa. Not the same, my ass.

I read this when it came out. Totally predictable crock of BS. Feldman is starting to look more and more like your typical clickbaiting hack. He sounds smooth and all but he has no problem shamelessly milking the bogus sign stealing "scandal" that every credible coach knows is nonsense. 

Also, the BIG has some serious whiners for coaches.

This conference is full of petty, whining bitches. 

First of all, to hell with the Big Ten and to hell with these coaches. I hope every Big Ten school in a bowl game loses, except us of course. They can all burn.

That being said, except for the bullshit leading comment about Stallions, the comments that are posted aren't wrong. The OL is great but has been somewhat disappointing compared to '21 and '22. Alabama's DL will have success. Also, Jim does need to take the TCU game -- especially the first half to heart -- and learn from his mistakes in bowl prep and in-game coaching. If we have a first half like the TCU game, it's gonna be a long day.

And then the one positive bit -- was that Ferentz or Fleck?

Anyway, I don't think this will matter much. It's Michigan versus everybody and this team is strong enough to withstand it all. Coaches, put 'em in the right position to succeed, and I'm thinking they will.

All the bullshit signgate coverage has soured me on Feldman. Irreparably so.

This bs has me irrationally irritated. I now want Michigan to crush Bama by AT LEAST 3 tds.

My absolute favorite quote:

“They’re different now,” said one Big Ten head coach. “It makes a huge difference to know when blitzes are coming, so when you pick it up, you can really attack it. After that (investigation and resignation of staffer Connor Stalions), they weren’t always at the right place at the right time.”

***Checks Notes****

Since the Stallions firing we have proceeded to beat the #1, #3 and #5 Defenses- according to foxsports stats.

Sounds to me like they cherry picked negative stuff only.

“They’re different now,” said one Big Ten head coach. “It makes a huge difference to know when blitzes are coming, so when you pick it up, you can really attack it. After that (investigation and resignation of staffer Connor Stalions), they weren’t always at the right place at the right time.”

- Greg Schiano (allegedly)

It is interesting how early in the season when Michigan struggled to run the ball against teams that were blitzing LB's and safeties while JJ torched them through the air, the narrative was that Michigan couldn't run the ball, and later on when defenses focused more on taking away downfield passing and the run game improved but JJ's stats weren't as great it became "oh JJ isn't good without Connor Stalions" lol.  

Fact is, defenses have adapted to Michigan's running game by loading the box.  It doesn't mean the OL hasn't been playing well (in fact besides the OSU game they've been pretty consistently well above the Mendoza line).  Difference from last year is we've faced more heavy boxes and the RB's have not been as great at generating explosives.  However, we have been able to punish teams (at least for most of the season) with PA, JJ's legs, and Loveland and WIlson being difficult 1 on 1 covers.

Now, it is completely fair to wonder if Alabama has the horses to play aggressively in the box AND take away the passing attack, especially given the quality of their secondary and edge rushers (not to mention Saban).  But "Indiana stuffed them" screams willful ignorance.

One of the more frustrating parts of the article was reading a coach say “You ain’t gonna big boy Alabama,” and fearing that our offensive braintrust will see that as a hill to die upon. Let JJ cook!

I think the comments made about specific players were largely, if not universally, correct. And I think it is true that Alabama has more talent, especially if defined by stars or draft picks. But that could be said of OSU also. This team has been more than the sum of its parts all year. As one of the coaches said, we will need JJ to play a great and mistake-free game. 

That last paragraph though. 

Weird.. When I woke up today I thought to myself "I wonder what all of the loser coaches who are not the three peat Big Ten champions think of Michigan football". Then I realized that I didn't think of any of that, and just stubbed my toe on the bed post is all.

Did they do this type of preview before Ohio state and MSU got shut out in their playoff games ?

Well, they are likely sending Bama all of the intel that they have on Michigan, since colluding against us is the only thing they did well this year.  13 against 1 and they still couldn’t beat us.  What a pathetic conference.  “Please help us, Mr. Saban, sir.”